MARDAN: Awami National Party leader Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government over the lapse of Rs70 billion development fund in the province during the outgoing fiscal.

“The province’s Rs70 billion developmental funds are bound to lapse during the outgoing financial year because the provincial government pursued the lengthy procedure of seeking permission of PTI chief Imran Khan for the launch of every development project in the province,” he said during the condolence reference for ANP leader Ghani Dad Khan at his house here.

Hoti said it was no less than a joke that the government had announced 10 per cent increase in the salaries of government employees and 20 per cent increase in development funds for financial year 2014-15.

He said his government had increased the government employees’ salaries and development funds by 50 and 80 per cent respectively.

Hoti says 10pc pay raise a joke with govt employees

The ANP leader said the imposition of property tax in the rural areas was a great injustice to the poor villagers of the province.

Hoti said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had realised their mistake of electing PTI to form the government after seeing it fail to deliver.

He said more and more leaders and workers of other parties in the province were joining ANP realising it was the only party, which had been fighting for the rights of Pakhtuns.

The ANP leader lauded the services of Ghani Dada Khan for the party and Pakhtuns and said the deceased was a devoted and sincere leader, who rendered matchless sacrifices for the people of the region.

Other ANP leaders, including Arbab Ayub Jan and Aqil Shah, also paid tribute to Ghani Dad Khan for his good services and said his death was an irreparable loss to the party and Pakhtuns. They asked the party leaders and workers to follow in the footsteps of Ghani Dad Khan.

Noted among others were ANP MPA Sardar Hussain Babak, district president Himayatullah Mayar and district general secretary Latifur Rehman.

A large number of ANP workers were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2014